Rotatable and stowable foil system and method

ABSTRACT

A foil assembly for a watercraft includes a base assembly, a fin rotatably connected to the base assembly such that the fin can rotate longitudinally, and a slider attachment configured to connect to a fin box of a watercraft wherein the base assembly is configured to be removably disposed within the slider attachment such that the base assembly and the fin can be removed and rotated laterally to a folded position and still be retained by the slider attachment to the fin box.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a U.S. Nonprovisional Application that claims the benefit of, and priority to, U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/294,075, filed Feb. 11, 2016, titled, “A ROTATABLE AND STOWABLE FOIL SYSTEM AND METHOD”, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The present disclosure relates to watercraft, more specifically to foils (e.g., fins) for watercraft.

2. Description of Related Art

Watercraft are a group of ubiquitous surface and subsurface vehicles that have been used throughout the world for thousands of years. Among many classification systems, one way to categorize watercraft is by differentiating them by their propulsive means. Watercraft can be configured to be propelled by wind, waves, oars, paddles, engines, and other means. Irrespective of the propulsive means, nearly all watercraft share a common feature for maintaining their directional orientation, turning capability and providing maneuvering stability. These elements are typically configured as foils, many of which describe a subset of such foils that are classified in the common vernacular as “fins.”

Fins found to be useful in watercraft are typically vertically oriented elements that provide directional, orientating, maneuvering and stabilizing means to the watercraft. In surface- riding watercraft, such fins are typically mounted on the ventral (wetted undersurface) of the watercraft's hull, body, or fuselage as the case may be. These fins can be mounted vertically, e.g., in the midline along the central longitudinal axis, or in off-axis positions depending upon their intended function. Furthermore, such fins can be mounted perpendicular to the horizontal axis of the watercraft's hull, or at various angles to the hull; again, depending upon their intended function. Furthermore, fins are typically shaped to have low water-impingement profiles to reduce the hydrodynamic and viscous drag forces impacting the fin as it moves through the water. Such fins can be made with or without a cambered axis depending upon whether lift is required.

Current fins are almost uniformly comprised of single-piece, rigid-body designs that are not movable. The fins of these standard designs encounter difficulties when: a) they suddenly impact subsurface obstacles as described herein causing damage to the fin, fin box, and or watercraft hull, as well as causing potential injury to the user, and b) without completely removing the fin from the fin box, make it difficult to stack, transport and/or store, the watercraft, especially when another watercraft are desirably stacked vertically on top of the watercraft.

Such conventional methods and systems have generally been considered satisfactory for their intended purpose. However, there is still a need in the art for improved foils. The present disclosure provides a solution for this need.

SUMMARY

A foil assembly for a watercraft includes a base assembly, a fin rotatably connected to the base assembly such that the fin can rotate longitudinally, and a slider attachment configured to connect to a fin box of a watercraft wherein the base assembly is configured to be removably disposed within the slider attachment such that the base assembly and the fin can be removed and rotated laterally to a folded position and still be retained by the slider attachment to the fin box.

The slider attachment can be connected to the base assembly via one or more elastic bands allowing retention of the base assembly and fin to the watercraft when in the folded position. The fin can include a lower fin body that defines a hollow slot for receiving a rotation plate of the base assembly.

The base assembly can include a base plate and an overmold. The overmold can define the limits of longitudinal rotation of the fin. The rotation plate can include a friction disk.

The base assembly can include in insertion plate for inserting the base assembly into the slider. The fin can include a magnetic device in a tip of the fin for retaining the fin in the folded position against the watercraft. The fin can be configured to rotate 150 degrees in the longitudinal direction.

A watercraft can include a hull, and a foil assembly as described above including a fin box disposed on the hull. In certain embodiments, a suction cup can be disposed on the hull for retaining the fin in the folded position.

These and other features of the systems and methods of the subject disclosure will become more readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those skilled in the art to which the subject disclosure appertains will readily understand how to make and use the devices and methods of the subject disclosure without undue experimentation, embodiments thereof will be described in detail herein below with reference to certain figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a transparent side elevation of an embodiment of a foil system in accordance with this disclosure, shown in an extended position.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are side elevations of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and illustrate a motion between an extended position and a retracted position;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are front elevations of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and illustrate a motion between an extended position and a retracted position;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are front elevations of the embodiment of FIG. 1 and illustrate a motion between an extended position and a folded position;

FIG. 9 is an expanded transparent elevation view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing the foil as transparent;

FIG. 11 is a transparent rear elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation view and a zoomed view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, illustrating a rotation gap;

FIG. 15 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown in an extended position and shown removed from the fin box;

FIG. 16 is a side elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, shown in a retracted position and shown placed in the fin box;

FIG. 17 is a side elevation view of an embodiment of a foil and body assembly in accordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a portion of a foil in accordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 19 is a front elevation view of an embodiment of the embodiment of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a side elevation, a top plan view and a front elevation view of an embodiment of a foil in accordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 21 is an elevation view of an embodiment of a fin base assembly in accordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 22 is perspective view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is a zoomed view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24 is a transparent end view the embodiment of FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is a transparent perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 21;

FIG. 26 is a side elevation view of a foil and body assembly in accordance with this disclosure, indication locations for a decal;

FIG. 27 is an elevation view of a fin base assembly shown having an overmolded plate (e.g., a thermoplastic elastomer);

FIG. 28 is an outline view of an embodiment of an assembly indicating where a lower fin body located over a rotation plate is frictionally moveable against a fin arc channel, for example;

FIG. 29 is a transparent perspective view of an embodiment of an overmolded plate in a fin base in accordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 30 is a perspective view of a portion of an embodiment of a fin base and slide attachment assembly in accordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 31 is a transparent bottom plan view of a portion of the embodiment of FIG. 30;

FIG. 32 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a slide attachment in accordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 33 is an elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 32;

FIG. 34 is an elevation view of a portion of an embodiment of an assembly in accordance with this disclosure showing the slide attachment assembly attached to the fin base;

FIG. 35 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 32;

FIG. 36 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 32, shown attached to the fin base;

FIG. 37 is a transparent end view of the embodiment of FIG. 32;

FIG. 38 is a transparent end view of the embodiment of FIG. 32, shown having the fin base connected thereto;

FIG. 39 is various view of embodiments of a fin box disposed in a watercraft hull;

FIG. 40 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a fin box in accordance with this disclosure;

FIG. 41 is a transparent perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 40;

FIG. 42 is a zoomed perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 40;

FIG. 43 is a zoomed transparent perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 40;

FIG. 44 is a transparent elevation view of the embodiment of FIG. 40;

FIG. 45 is a transparent end view of the embodiment of FIG. 40 receiving an embodiment of a fin assembly;

FIG. 46 is an end view of an embodiment of a system in a folded position, e.g., a lay-flat stowed positon;

FIG. 47 is top down view of the embodiment of FIG. 46, indicating the location of a suction cup for example; and

FIG. 48 is a top down view of the embodiment of FIG. 46, indicating the location of a rubber snap or magnet (e.g., at a fin tip as shown) for example.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like reference numerals identify similar structural features or aspects of the subject disclosure. For purposes of explanation and illustration, and not limitation, an illustrative view of an embodiment of a system in accordance with the disclosure is shown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by reference character 100. Other embodiments and/or aspects of this disclosure are shown in FIGS. 2-48.

As appreciated by those having ordinary skill in the art, the term “foil(s)” will be used interchangeably with the term “fin(s).” Traditional foils (e.g., fins) incapable of rotating to change their profile, or folding flat to better accommodate transportation and/or storage. Embodiments of this disclosure can address both of these fundamental, integrally problematic design features found in all single-piece, rigid-body fins by: a) using a multi-component fin assembly design that can both be manually rotated and/or or auto-rotated to a lower vertical profile, and b) can be manually repositioned to fold horizontally flat against the undersurface of the watercraft to facilitate its transportation and/or storage.

Embodiments of this disclosure include a multi-component, vertically-oriented, rotatable, stowable, infinitely-positionable foil system and method. Embodiments can be used for watercraft, e.g., as an improved orientation and stabilization system and its methods of assembly and use for watercraft. Any other suitable use is contemplated herein. Certain embodiments include four components including a positionable (e.g., rotatable, stowable) foil member, a removably insertable foil member mounting base, a retaining means, and a selectively slidable attachment means. These components, when assembled, can be designed to be universally and removably affixable to all standard center-fin type fin boxes designed for hard body as well as inflatable watercraft.

Embodiments of this disclosure most broadly relate to watercraft foils which can be most specifically and more popularly known as “fins.” While this disclosure will primarily disclose elements related to fins for use in surface-riding watercraft such as surfboards and stand-up paddle boards, otherwise known as SUP's, those skilled in the art will recognize the broader applicability of embodiments of this disclosure for use in other surface-riding watercraft such as kayaks, canoes, wake boards, kite boards, windsurfers, water skis, jet skis, sailboats, power boats, as well as subsurface watercraft like submarines, and all other watercraft that use one or more “fins” as a means of directional orientation, maneuverability, and/or stabilization for example. Furthermore, in addition to its preferred embodiment as such is applied broadly to fins and their use, the design elements of embodiments of this disclosure can be additionally used, modified and/or applied to other common water-impinging, directionally orientating and stabilizing elements used in watercraft such as keels, rudders, centerboards, dagger-boards and any number of other foils that have been found to be useful in providing directional orientation, maneuvering, and/or stabilization for such watercraft.

Nearly all watercraft fins in commonplace usage today can be characterized by single-piece, rigid-body foil designs which can be problematic for a number of reasons. Embodiments of this disclosure can overcome the design defects inherent in these single-piece rigid-body fins by introducing an improved design comprised of a series of elements incorporated into a multi-component watercraft orientation, maneuvering, and stabilization system, as well as the methods of its assembly and use. The four principal design features of embodiments of this disclosure system and method are disclosed herein to provide an inexpensive and practical means for the watercraft user to utilize a number of highly advantageous capabilities not previously disclosed in prior art.

Embodiments include a positionable, rotatable, and stowable foil member (“fin”) which can be selectively, semi-permanently, easily and manually rotated through an infinite number of positions beginning from an essentially upright, most vertical, position rotating through approximately 90 degrees (or any other suitable angle) of caudal (rearward) rotation to its essentially most horizontal position. This rotating foil capability can provide the watercraft user with the ability to easily and rapidly preselect, without the necessity of using tools, the most desirable water impingement profile for the foil. Such infinite positions can range from a maximal (upright or extended) profile position, to a minimal (horizontal or retracted) profile position, thus having the ability to at once impart differing lift, drag, torque, tracking, stabilizing, turning, orienting, and other hydrodynamic characteristics to the foil and thus to the connected watercraft itself for use in various water, wind, current, wave, speed, depth, bottom configurations, and other anticipatable conditions likely to be encountered by the watercraft at the time of its then current configuration and use. This extremely flexible and adaptable intrinsic first design element allows the watercraft user to modify the foil's profile, at will, almost instantly, without the use of tools or the need to change, remove, or replace the watercraft's fin(s) in order to adapt to changing aquatic environments or other watercraft purposes as such may be deemed desirable and/or necessary.

For example, and not intended to be limiting, a SUP user may wish to participate in a deep, open-water racing environment where a more maximal, fully vertical fin profile may be preferred for ease of turning and maximal directional stability when using a “racing stroke,” as opposed to a low impingement fin profile which can be more desirable for shallow water applications like beach surfing or whitewater river paddling; where a maximally vertically oriented fin would be far more likely to “run aground” or undesirably impact subsurface objects during such uses, which can cause damage to the fin, the connected fin box, or connected the watercraft; not to mention the possibility of causing injury to the watercraft user themselves.

Embodiments of this disclosure can be capable of being rotatably positionable to accommodate an infinite number of vertical profiles from the fin's most fully vertical to its most fully horizontal profile, without requiring the user to go to the added time, trouble and expense of having to purchase and install different fins to adapt to this variety of uses and aquatic environments, which can be expensive and impractical. Additionally, this rotatably positionable feature provides the ability for the fin to automatically rotate from its fully upright vertical position to its lower-profile fully horizontal position in those situations whereupon the fin inadvertently and/or undesirably impacts upon an unseen or unavoidable object located below the water surface (rock, sand, bottom, coral head, seaweed, kelp, flotsam, etc.) while the watercraft is moving through the water. This rotatably positionable feature reduces the likelihood that the foil, the fin box, or the watercraft itself would sustain impact damage; or that the watercraft's user will suffer injury subsequent to such impacts as can commonly be the case with all current single-piece, rigid-body, watercraft fin designs.

Lastly, an additional benefit of a rotatably positionable foil member provides the user with the ability to navigate through bodies of water with varying depths, especially shallow depths, as such can be commonly encountered in beach surfing, river environments and others that can be currently considered unnavigable by those many watercraft fitted with single-piece, rigid-body fins. For example, watercraft users will frequently desire to traverse through waters, without the need to dismount, with bottom features of increasingly shallower depths such as shorelines, sand bars, shoals, reefs, river beds, oyster beds, and other bottom depths and subsurface features that are universally considered to be impassable obstacles to mounted users of watercraft outfitted with traditional single-piece, rigid-body fins. Embodiments of this disclosure obviate such restrictions by enabling the user to quickly and easily, without the use of tools, preposition the rotatable foil means by rotating it into a lower profile, more horizontal position (shallower draft), thus facilitating transit over these shallower aquatic terrains, or by simply moving carefully over the shallower depths allowing the fin to “kick up” on its own automatically, to avoid impacting such bottom features. In either case, the once impassable transit can be now navigable without dismounting.

The rotatably positionable feature of embodiments of this disclosure will afford the watercraft user with an auto-rotating capability whereby, upon the occurrence of the foil's leading edge impacting with a bottom feature (sand, rock, sea bed, river bed, etc.) in a shallower depth, the impact will cause the foil to auto-rotate caudally (i.e., “kick up”) to conform to a lower profile (shallower) position to accommodate the decreased depth without introducing a significant potential to impart damage to the foil, the connected fin box, the connected watercraft or the watercraft user, as the case may be.

Those skilled in the art will recognize the benefits of this auto-rotatable “kick-up” feature as being optimally provided through an element of the embodiment that can be commonly termed a “friction fit,” or otherwise known as an “interference fit” allowing for an infinite number of rotatably positionable configuration profiles to be at once available for the fin as it moves through its arc of rotation. Alternatively, embodiments of this disclosure could be configured with rotation stops that allow for predetermined and proscribed incremental rotational movements of the fin, as such may be desirable by a user under other fin configurations.

Embodiments of this disclosure can include a removably insertable foil mounting base means that can be integrated into the whole of the embodiments but maintained as a separate component thereof. This feature can allow the user to easily and rapidly, and without the use of tools, to remove the foil system from its vertically mounted position on the watercraft. More specifically, and in combination with the other design features disclosed herein, and not intending to be limiting, this selectively removable design feature allows for the user to extract the foil system as it is vertically lifted out of the slidable attachment means, another component disclosed herein, then oriented to lay horizontally flat against or paralleling the undersurface of the watercraft to minimize its vertical profile entirely, while at once remaining semi permanently, yet removably connected to the watercraft, thus allowing for rapid, easy stowage and safer transport of the watercraft, without the use of tools, especially in those situations where it is desirable for multiple watercraft to be vertically stacked one on top of the other, as such is commonly done, especially on the roof racks of users' cars where multiple surfboards, SUP's, kayaks, etc. are to be co-located.

This “lay-flat” capability can reduce the probability of damage occurring to the foil, the connected fin box or the connected watercraft itself, as well as any potential damage to any other watercraft, or other objects which the user would desire to be stacked on top of the watercraft. Additionally, this lay-flat means provides the user with the ability to easily, readily and quickly store the watercraft, without the use of tools, and without having to completely remove the fin from the connected fin box, as is typically the case with current single-piece, rigid-body fin designs.

Additionally, the “lay-flat” means of embodiments of this disclosure can afford the ability to manufacture watercraft covers without fin-adapting slits, thereby enabling the fashioning of covers that fully seal and protect the watercraft, preventing intrusion by water, weather, insects, or other undesirable aspects of current cover designs.

Embodiments of this disclosure can also include an integral retaining means that removably holds the rotatable foil member in place while at the same time allows the user to reposition the foil member into the “lay-flat” position without having to disconnect it entirely from the watercraft itself, and doing so without the use of tools. This design feature can be optimally achieved in embodiments of this disclosure through an embodiment that incorporates one or more elastomeric retaining means, e.g., rubber bands, that is/are accommodated with molded-in nesting notches and access slots configured into the removable foil base and the slidable attachment means as further described and disclosed herein. Elastomeric attachment means can be configured as two members, one located in the forward section of the assembly, and one located in the rear section of the assembly. These elastomeric members can be made from resilient, stretchable materials such as natural rubber, latex rubber, Santoprene®, neoprene rubber, silicone rubber, or other any other suitable elastomeric, stretchable materials that do not appreciably degrade and can be otherwise fully compatible with the aquatic environments and the weathering elements, as such are frequently encountered by the watercraft of embodiments of this disclosure.

These elastomeric retaining members can be configured to impart a nominal yet continuous connecting force between the removable fin base relative to the sliding attachment member without ‘taking a set,’ while at once being expandable (stretched) with a vertical force as such may be applied by the user to lift the removable fin base assembly member up and out of the removably-connected, selectively-slidable attachment means, thus simultaneously retaining the fin's “lay-flat” capability without having to disconnect the fin/fin base assembly from the watercraft, and having the ability to adjust this configuration within seconds without the use of tools. This feature can allow the user to easily and quickly reconfigure the watercraft for transport and or storage.

With reference generally to FIGS. 1-48, embodiments of this disclosure can include a universally-fitting, selectively slidable attachment means which firmly and fixedly, yet non-permanently connects the Rotatable Fin Assembly 100 to the watercraft's Fin Box 184 which can be permanently and integrally affixed to, and can be flush-mounted with, the ventral surface (undersurface) of all current SUP, surfboard and other surface-riding watercraft designs, including the slightly protruding, adhesively-affixed fin boxes of most inflatable SUP's and other such watercraft as well.

Fin Boxes 184 is/are used on many if not all SUP and surfboard design on the market today. Typically, Fin Boxes 184 can be manufactured in standard widths, and depths, and configured in a number of standard-length center channels longitudinally ranging from approximately 8 to 12 inches in selectively slidable lengths. Typical standard single-piece rigid fins can incorporate a horizontally oriented fixation pin (the Horizontal Pin 172), perpendicular to the sliding axis, along with an attaching screw/nut means (Attachment Screw 174) designed to firmly, yet non-permanently attach the single-piece, rigid-body fin to the watercraft's fin box, which can be integral with and thus fixedly attached to the watercraft itself. The pin and screw/nut means can be variously configured in the front and the rear in the fin, with some fin designs positioning the integral horizontal fixation pin forward and screw/nut means rearward, and with other designs being the opposite orientation, with each design claiming to have superior characteristics over the other.

The universally standardized fin boxes can be configured with paired, parallel, mid-positioned, horizontally-oriented, Molded-in channels that run longitudinally down both sides of the fin box which can be designed to accommodate both the fin's horizontal fixation pin as well as the screw/nut fixation means. These universally standardized fin boxes can be additionally configured with a horizontally oriented insertion slot positioned in the middle of the fin box, which can be oriented vertically to the depth of the side channels and communicates at once with the side channels, providing access thereto for the fin's horizontal fixation pin and the screw/nut fixation means. Embodiments of this disclosure's Tapered Slidable Attachment means component can be designed to attach universally to these standardized fin boxes using the same horizontal fixation pin and screw/nut configuration used by traditional single-piece, rigid fins, thus being adaptable to most, if not all, of the current standardized fin box designs on the market.

Embodiments of this disclosure can incorporate the Attachment Screw 174/Attachment Nut 176 located in the front section of the Rotatable Fin Assembly 100, and locates the Horizontal Pin 172 in the rear. Alternative embodiments can be envisioned that could reverse these positions without significantly affecting the overall performance of embodiments of this disclosure. The Attachment Screw 174 can be configured as a tool-free, thumb-screw design.

Referring to FIGS. 1-48, with specific reference to FIGS. 1-15, embodiments of this disclosure can be defined by a Rotatable Fin Assembly 100, which can be comprised of a Fin Tip 190 at its most vertical end, a Leading Edge 116 and a Trailing Edge 118 which define the forward-most and rear-most extents of the Fin Body 102 respectively. The Fin Body 102 can be made from wood, metal, laminates, thermoplastic elastomers, plastics, composites like carbon fiber, fiberglass, resins, or other any other suitable moldable or machinable material. The Fin Body 102 material can be made of differing colors, designs, patterns, and textures designed to suit the decorative needs of the user, or can be subject to shrink wrap appliques and other decorative means.

The Fin Body 102 can be further divided into the Upper Fin Body 104, the Lower Fin Body 106 and the Fin Arc 108 located at the lower-most extent of the Lower Fin Body 106. In certain embodiments, one section of the Upper Fin Body 104 expands in a rearward protrusion to form an integral Power Bulge Section 120, designed to provide additional surface area to the Fin Body 102, thus adding more fulcrum moment force against the water for improved directional and turning capabilities.

Referring additionally to FIG. 16-21, the Lower Fin Body 106 can be substantially hollow, defined by a central cavity or Rotation Plate Channel 192, which extends from its entrance at the lower edge of the Fin Arc 108 (e.g., as shown in FIG. 9), substantially excavating the entire central core of the interior of the Lower Fin Body 106 in the approximate form of a circular recess designed to accommodate the circular superior edge of the Rotation Plate 132 of the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130. The rotating edge of the Fin Arc 108 can define a convex surface that can be bisected by the Rotation Plate Channel 192, which apex can track inside the Fin Arc Guide Channel 110 and can be configured to slide freely or alternatively slide with a frictional interface as it rotates over the Fin Arc Channel Interface 112 at an Interference Fit 114 segment of the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130. This can subscribe approximately 90 to 180 degrees of arc, and in certain embodiments to approximately 150 degrees of arc. The Fin Base Assembly 130 can be a two-component element, for example. Referring to

FIGS. 21-31, in certain embodiments, the first component can be comprised of a very strong, rigid, central core plate-like material that can be impervious to the elements like galvanized steel, or stainless steel such as 18-gauge Type 304 stainless steel plate. Alternative materials like carbon fiber, nanotube materials, or reinforced polymeric thermoplastic material, and/or other suitable moldable or machinable materials can be readily envisioned for use in this component in other embodiments, which could variously then provide for the constructed of the entire assembly as a single piece design.

The plate of this Fin Base Assembly 130 can form the core element onto and over which the over-molded material can be permanently and integrally bonded. The plate can be fashionable by machining, molding, stamping or other shaping means, and can be variously perforated with through-holes to provide connecting channels to enhance the bonding of the over-molded material. The over-molded material can be comprised of a firm, durable, UV and salt water resistant thermoplastic elastomeric material which can be over-molded by onto the Rotation Plate 132 including the Friction Disk 198. In addition to rigid materials of common fin designs used in freely-rotating designs, examples of over-molded materials for friction fit designs could include unsaturated and saturated rubber materials, e.g., Natural Rubber; EPM, EPDM, Santoprene, Silicone Rubber, and many others comprising durometers between Shore 40 A to Shore 70 A material, for example, Shore 60 A Industrial Grade Silicone Rubber using a liquid silicone injection technology. The over-molded material can be made of differing colors, designs, patterns, and textures designed to suit the decorative needs of the user.

The Over-Molded Fin Base Plate 136 can be comprised of three regions. The upper-most region being the Rotation Plate 132, the central region being the Over-Molded Fin Base Plate 136, and the lower region being the Insertion Plate 134. The Rotation Plate 132 can be connected to the Lower Fin Body's 106 center of rotation by a Rotation Fastener Hardware 198 that approximates through the Rotation Fastener Hole 194 which aligns with a perforating hole in the Rotation Plate Channel 192 that centrally bisects the thin hollow core of the Lower Fin Body 106. The Over-Molded Fin Base Plate 136 can be perforated with numerous strategically and variously-placed through-holes whose size, shape, and location would be well known by those skilled in the thermoplastic over-molding arts. Extending inferiorly and below the lower limit of the elastomeric over-molded section emerges that region of the plate designated as the Insertion Plate 134, which can be substantially rectangular with radii at the insertion edges designed to tightly fit, size on size, into the Insertion Plate Slot 182 of the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170.

Embodiments of the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly can also at once define both a Vertical Rotation Stop 138 located at the upper-most extend of the assembly's Leading Edge 116, and a Horizontal Rotation Stop 140, located at the upper-most extend of the assembly's Trailing Edge 118. Additionally, a Rotation Clearance Notch 164 can be indentedly positioned at the lower section of the Rotation Plate 132 to allow for the full, unimpeded horizontal (caudal) rotation of the Fin Body 102 until it impinges upon the Horizontal Rotation Stop 140, such that the trailing edge or the Power Bulge 120, as the case may be, stops just above the Ventral Watercraft Hull Surface 128 with a non-impacting safety margin designated the Rotation Gap 142. In certain embodiments, the Rotation Gap 142 can measure between about 2 mm to about 20 mm, such as 5 mm to prevent the Power Bulge 120 of the Fin Body 102 from impacting the hull surface of the watercraft on full horizontal rotation of the Fin Body 102, which could damage the hull, the Fin Assembly 100, or both.

The Over-Molded material, e.g., an elastomer, can provides a cushioning, soft-stop effect, which prevents damage to the Trailing Edge 118 of the Lower Fin Body 106 upon encountering the Horizontal Rotation Stop 140 as it can be rotated to the full horizontal extent of the assembly's rotational capability.

The Rotatable Fin Assembly 100, consisting of the Fin Body 102 and the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130 can be connected by a Rotation Fastener Hardware such as, a screw, a taper pin, a bolt, or a riveting means, or any other suitable fastener, e.g., a Type 304 Black, Stainless Steel, Dual Flat Head Flush-Mounting Aviation Rivet such as provided by Aviation Products Systems designated APS105-00200 FAA-PMA Rivet. Such rivets can be irreversibly engaged to a predetermined, specifically measurable and accurately reproducible compression force to best provide for an appropriate resistive force to the Rotatable Fin Body's 102 rotation augmenting and optimizing the friction fit/interference fit feature of the embodiments. This rivet's compressive force, in combination with the optional Interference Fit 114 at the Fin Arc Channel Interface 112, can provide sufficient passive resistance to prevent inadvertent and/or unwanted rotation of the Rotatable Fin Assembly 100 as the fin moves through the water, but sufficiently enables both manual rotation and auto-rotation capabilities with an appropriate force requirement that can be easy to perform manually, and at once has the capability to auto-rotate upon impacting an obstacle, as disclosed herein, to prevent fin, fin box or watercraft damage and/or user injury.

The Fin Body 102 and Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130 can be permanently connected by the Rotation Fastener Hardware 196 thus providing a multi-component yet unitary single piece assembly. Such assembly can be selectively and removably affixed to the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 through a plurality of design elements.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 32-48, the first attachment means can be by fully engaging the Insertion Plate 134 of the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130 into the Insertion Plate Slot 182 of the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170. The clearance of the Insertion Plate Slot 182 can be nearly line-on-line' for an 18ga Insertion Plate for example, with approximately about 0.000″ to about 0.005″ of total sidewall clearance for the Insertion Plate 134, e.g., a sidewall clearance of approximately 0.001″ to about 0.002″. The fit between these two parts can be snug to prevent fin wobbling, but not so tight that it is too difficult for the user to remove the Insertion Plate 134 of the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130 from the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 through the application of a mild, vertically-applied, manual force, for example.

The second attachment means can be where the connected (i.e., riveted) unitary Fin Body 102/Fin Base Assembly can be tethered to the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 with, e.g., two rubber bands, the Front Rubber Band 160 and the Rear Rubber Band 162 respectively. Both of these rubber bands can nest into recesses molded into the base and sides of the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 as defined by a Front Rubber Band Notch 154 and a Rear Rubber Band Notch 156, respectively. The two rubber bands can be secured in the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 and loop superiorly through the Front Rubber Band Notch 154 and Rear Rubber Band Notch 156 respectively of the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130 with a continuous mild passive compressive force exerted by both rubber bands when the riveted Fin Body 102/Fin Base Assembly can be tethered to the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170.

The third attachment means can be where the lowest extent of the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130 defines a tubular-shaped, Male Longitudinal Snap 146 made from the over-molded, compressible, thermoplastic elastomer, and which engages at once the uppermost extent of the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 which defines a firm “U-channel shaped” Female Longitudinal Snap 148 which can be made from a rigid, firm, and non-fragile, thermoplastic material like reinforced polypropylene, nylon, ABS, PVC, polycarbonate, or any other suitable materials. These materials can be UV and salt water resistant, as well as being durable and having minimal swelling coefficients when immersed in water. Embodiments of a material for the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 of embodiments of this disclosure can be PVC, due to its low cost, excellent moldability, inherent strength, smoothly moldable surface, and minimal expansion coefficient with continuous water exposure. The Tapered Slidable Attachment Means could also be configured to adapt to alternatively designed fin boxes as such may be commercially available without diminishing the features of embodiments of this disclosure.

Referring to FIGS. 37 and 38, when fully engaged, the compressible Male Longitudinal Snap 146 of the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130 nests essentially size for size into the firm Female Longitudinal Snap 148 with line on line to minimal wall clearance of about 0.000″ to about 0.005″ in the radius, e.g., 0.001″ to 0.002″. This removably connectable snap-fit between the components can provide a positive “click” when the parts are fully engaged with a firm downward thrust. The combination of the Insertion Plate 134, the Longitudinal Snap 144 connection, and the applied elastic force of the taut front and rear rubber bands hold the entire unitary Rotatable Fin Assembly 100 onto the watercraft firmly, without wobbling once the Tapered Slidable Attachment 170 is firmly affixed to the Fin Box 184 with the Attachment Screw/Attachment Nut components (not shown).

In certain embodiments, a total vertical “pull” force of between about 1 kg to about 10 kg can be required to disengage the unitary Rotatable Fin Assembly 100 from the Tapered Slidable Attachment 170, e.g., about 2 kg to about 3 kg of pull force. Such pull force can be substantially less than the force needed to rotate the Fin Body 102 such that the unitary Fin Assembly 100 is not disconnected from the Fin Box 184 during a Leading Edge 190 impact event.

Referring additionally to FIGS. 40-48, the Tapered Slidable Attachment 170 can be firmly affixed to the Fin Box 184 by means of the combination of the Horizontal Pin 172, and the Attachment Screw/Attachment Nut. These three components can be made from strong, non-corroding materials, e.g., metals like bronze or stainless steel, e.g., Type 304 Stainless Steel.

The Horizontal Pin 172 can slide into the Fin Box 184 through the Horizontal Fin Access Slot 186 and fits nearly size for size into the seamlessly connected Longitudinal Fin Box Channel 188 with minimal clearance of about 0.000″ to 0.005″ in the diameter of the channel, e.g., clearance being approximately about 0.001″ to about 0.002″. The Attachment Nut can also fit non-rotatably into the Longitudinal Fin Box Channel 188 with a similar clearance, for example. Additionally, the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 can be narrower at its caudal (rear) end where the Horizontal Pin 172 is located and wider at its rostral (front) end where the Attachment Screw/Attachment Nut is located, which can fit size for size into the vertical channel of the Fin box 184 without compressing the Insertion Plate Slot 182. In certain embodiments, the Horizontal Pin 172 can be accurately insert molded into its position in the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170.

The combination of the snug fit of the Insertion Plate 134 into the Insertion Plate Slot 182, the snug fit of the Horizontal Pin 172 in the Longitudinal Fin Box Channel 188 of the Fin Box 184, the tightly affixable Attachment Screw/Attachment Nut, the snug fit of the Longitudinal Snap 144, as well as the size for size fit of Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 at the wide end of the taper as it compressively nests into the vertical channel of the Fin box 184 with tightening, firmly holds the unitary Rotatable Fin Assembly 100 selectively and connectedly to the Fin Box 184 and thus to the watercraft without any discernable wiggle, or wobble, or movement of any kind. Any desirable flexibility of the Fin Body 102 can be accomplished by the selection of the appropriately desirable construction material.

Prior to the firm affixation of the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 into the vertical channel of the Fin box 184, the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 can be freely positioned, fore and aft, along the full extent of the longitudinal channel of the Fin box 184 as desired by the user. The mobility of the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 can be facilitated by the full recess of the rubber bands which, when tautly positioned in the notches, do not extend to the boundary surface of the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170, and thus do not interfere with its slidable movement within the Fin Box 184. A typical recess margin can be 0.005″ to 0.020″, e.g., 0.010″ to accommodate for any potential swelling of the components when immersed in water. Not unlike current fin designs, additional solidity of the connection of the Fin Assembly 100 to the Fin Box 184 of embodiments of this disclosure, can be obtained through the utilization of shims (plastic, metal, etc.) as are standard features with most standard fins on the market today.

Embodiments of this disclosure have been disclosed above and allow for a embodiments of an assembly method whereby, the Fin Body 102 can be slid onto and over the Rotation Plate 132 with the inferior Fin Arc 108 being positioned over and onto the Fin Arc Guide Channel 110 and can be compressibly held against the Fin Arc Channel Interface to define the optional Interference Fit 114, while at once aligning the Fin Rotation Fastener Hole 122 with the Rotation Plate Fastener Hole 194, then inserting the Rotation Fastener Hardware 124, e.g., the rivet disclosed herein. The rivet can be then irreversibly crimped with the appropriate compression force to permanently and firmly affix the Fin Body 102 to the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130. A Friction Ring 198 or disk can be centrally affixed or concentrically over-molded onto the Rotation Plate 132 such that the rivet impinges the Lower Fin Body 106 onto the Rotation Plate 132 thus creating the desired friction fit/interference fit force of rotation.

Next, this unitary riveted assembly can be then removably connected to the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 by positioning the Insertion Plate 134 of the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130 into the Insertion Plate Slot 182 of the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170. The two parts can be then fully engaged with a forceful downward thrust whereby the tubular Male Longitudinal Snap 146 at the inferior extent of the Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130 removably inserts into the U-channel Female Longitudinal Snap 148 at the superior extent of the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170.

Next, The Front Rubber Band 160 can be then wrapped onto the parts by sliding it through the Front Rubber Band Access Slot 150 then stretching it over the front end of the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 until it is fully nested and smoothly recessed into the

Front Rubber Band Notch 154. The same procedure can be similarly followed for the Rear Rubber Band 162 being fitted into the Rear Rubber Band Access Slot 152 and stretched and smoothly fitted into the Rear Rubber Band Notch 156. The Front and Rear Rubber Bands 160 and 162 respectively, can be protected against excessive wear and can be deeply seated into the Rubber Band Notches by a full Radius Surface 158 of the Rubber Band Notches 154 and 156 respectively.

The base of the Lower Fin Body 106 can be defined inferiorly by the Fin Arc 108 section which forms an essentially circular arc segment thus a curvilinear shape to accommodate the rotation of the Fin Body 102. The Lower Fin Body 106, can be circumscribed on both left and right surfaces with a raised molded-in Decal Placement Guide Rim 166, to facilitate the user's ability to position, place and affix an optional self-adhesive circular Decorative Decal 168 onto the Lower Fin Body 106. Although decorative means such a shrink wraps and decals of all shapes, sizes, colors and textures could be applied to either any and all of the entire surface of the Fin Body 102, providing from minimal to whole fin surface coverage, the Decal Placement Guide Rim 166 can be essentially circular and approximates the shape of the Fin Arc 108 and can accommodate a circular decal, e.g., basic decoration for the embodiments. This Decorative Decal 168 fits with a small circumferential clearance within Decal Placement Guide Rim 166 and will enhance the aesthetic appearance of the Fin Assembly 100, as well as cover the Rotation Fastener 124, e.g., a crimped flush-mounting aviation rivet. Different and or replacement Decals 168 can be fashioned in the standard size the fit the Decal Placement Guide Rim 166, and sold separately. The diameter of the Decorative Decal 168 of the current embodiment can be between 2 inches to 8 inches, e.g., 4 inches in an embodiment illustrated herein.

The Rotatable Fin Assembly 100 can be designed to be universally applicable to virtually all fin boxes on the market. The Rotatable Fin Assembly 100 removably connects to the standard Fin Box 184 using the traditional method of connection, whereby the Attachment Nut 176 can be inserted into the Longitudinal Fin Box Channel 188 and slid to the forward-most end of the Fin Box 184. The Horizontal Pin 172 of the Rotatable Fin Assembly 100 can be inserted into the Longitudinal Fin Box Channel 188 and slid rearward and maneuvered such that the Attachment Screw Hole 178 can be positioned over the Attachment Nut 176 which can be situated in the Longitudinal Fin Box Channel 188. The Attachment Screw 174 can be then inserted into and through the Attachment Screw Hole 178 whereupon it engages the threaded Attachment Nut 176, and can be slightly tightened to unify the Attachment Screw 174 and the Attachment Nut 176. The entire Rotatable Fin Assembly 100 can be then longitudinally positioned at the desired fore and aft location by the user, along the extent of the Fin Box 184, and the Attachment Screw can be then fully tightened, pulling the size on size wide end of the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170 to become flush with the surface of the Fin Box 184. The optional shims as mentioned above can be positioned if necessary to further tighten the connection.

Once firmly positioned in the Fin Box 184, the Rotatable Fin Assembly 100 of embodiments of this disclosure provides for two basic user activities: a) reduction of the Fin Body 102 vertical profile using a fin rotation method as disclosed herein, and b) folding the Fin Assembly 100 horizontally against the watercraft's Ventral Surface 128 to accommodate the easy and convenient transportation and storage of the watercraft without having to remove the fin as disclosed herein.

As disclosed above, the Fin Body 102 can be rotated either manually by the user without the use of tools, or it can automatically rotate upon an inadvertent impact with a subsurface object as the fin moves through the water. Manual rotation of the Fin Body 102 can be accomplished by simply either grasping the Fin Tip 190 or Fin Body 102 or by applying the user's hand against the Leading Edge 116 of the Fin Tip 190 to provide a gentle but firm pressure thereupon, thus overcoming the friction fit/interference fit resistive force and rotating the Fin Body 102 rearward. Such Fin Body 102 rotation extends through an infinite number of possible positions from its most vertical orientation to its most horizontal orientation, as it rotates through approximately 90 degrees of arc, while at once reducing the fin's vertical height profile by approximately 50%.

When desirable, the Fin Body 102 and Over-Molded Fin Base Assembly 130, as a single riveted unit, can be manually repositioned, without the use of tools, by the user into a “Lay-flat” position without having to disconnect the components. In this example, the user simply grasps the Fin Body 102 and applies a modest vertically force to lift the Insertion Plate 134 out of the Insertion Plate Slot 182, while at once disengaging the Longitudinal Snap 144, while at once stretching the Front and Rear Rubber Bands 160 and 162 respectively; which act to elastically maintain their connection with the Tapered Slidable Attachment Means 170. Once the lifted Insertion Plate 134 clears the top lip of the Insertion Plate Slot 182, the entire assembly can be folded over toward either the port side or the starboard side of the watercraft hull and positioned horizontally into the lay-flat position. In this position, the Fin Body 102 rests horizontally, defining a small distance between it and the Ventral Surface of the Watercraft 128. This space can accommodate a number of securing means designed to prevent the Fin Body from contacting the hull of the watercraft during transport or storage, potentially damaging the hull, the fin or both. A Double Sided Suction Cup 126 can be inserted between the Fin Body 102 and the Ventral Hull Surface 128 which compressibly and removably restrains or tethers the Fin Body 102 to the Ventral Hull Surface 128. Alternatively, various catchment means, or a molded-in magnetic clasping means can be utilized to removably restrain the Fin Body 102 to the Ventral Hull Surface 128.

For convenience, a table depicting elements in the drawings is produced below.

100 Rotatable Fin Assembly 102 Fin Body 104 Upper Fin Body 106 Lower Fin Body 108 Fin Arc 110 Fin Arc Guide Channel 112 Fin Arc Channel Interface 114 Interference Fit 116 Leading Edge 118 Training Edge 120 Power Bulge Section 122 Fin Rotation Fastener Hole 124 Rotation Fastener 126 Double Sided Suction Cup Cushion 128 Ventral Surface of Watercraft 130 Over-molded Fin Base Assembly 132 Rotation Plate 134 Insertion Plate 136 Over-molded Fin Base Plate 138 Vertical Rotation Stop 140 Horizontal Rotation Stop 142 Rotation Gap 144 Longitudinal Snap 146 Male Longitudinal Snap 148 Female Longitudinal Snap 150 Front Rubber Band Access Slot 152 Rear Rubber Band Access Slot 154 Front Rubber Band Notch 156 Rear Rubber Band Notch 158 Radius Surface of Rubber Band Notch 160 Front Rubber Band 162 Rear Rubber Band 164 Rotation Clearance Notch 166 Decal Placement Guide Rim 168 Decorative Decal 170 Tapered Slide Attachment Means 172 Horizontal Pin 174 Attachment Screw 176 Attachment Nut 178 Attachment Screw Hole 180 Attachment Nut Recess 182 Insertion Plate Slot 184 Fin Box 186 Horizontal Pin Access Slot 188 Longitudinal Fin Box Channel OTHER 190 Fin Tip 192 Rotation Plate Channel 194 Rotation Plate Fastener Hole 196 Rotation Fastener Hardware 198 Friction Disk

The methods and systems of the present disclosure, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for systems and methods with superior properties. While the apparatus and methods of the subject disclosure have been shown and described with reference to embodiments, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that changes and/or modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the subject disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A foil assembly for a watercraft, comprising: a base assembly; a fin rotatably connected to the base assembly such that the fin can rotate longitudinally; and a slider attachment configured to connect to a fin box of a watercraft wherein the base assembly is configured to be removably disposed within the slider attachment such that the base assembly and the fin can be removed and rotated laterally to a folded position and still be retained by the slider attachment to the fin box.
 2. The foil assembly of claim 1, further comprising the fin box.
 3. The foil assembly of claim 1, wherein the slider attachment is connected to the base assembly via one or more elastic bands allowing retention of the base assembly and fin to the watercraft when in the folded position.
 4. The foil assembly of claim 1, wherein the fin includes a lower fin body that defines a hollow slot for receiving a rotation plate of the base assembly.
 5. The foil assembly of claim 4, wherein the base assembly includes a base plate and an overmold.
 6. The foil assembly of claim 5, wherein the overmold defines the limits of longitudinal rotation of the fin.
 7. The foil assembly of claim 4, wherein the rotation plate includes a friction disk.
 8. The foil assembly of claim 4, wherein the base assembly includes in insertion plate for inserting the base assembly into the slider.
 9. The foil assembly of claim 1, wherein the fin includes a magnetic device in a tip of the fin for retaining the fin in the folded position against the watercraft.
 10. The foil assembly of claim 1, wherein the fin is configured to rotate 150 degrees in the longitudinal direction.
 11. A watercraft, comprising: a hull; and a foil assembly disposed on the hull, comprising: a fin box; a base assembly; a fin rotatably connected to the base assembly such that the fin can rotate longitudinally; and a slider attachment connected to the fin box of a watercraft wherein the base assembly is configured to be removably disposed within the slider attachment such that the base assembly and the fin can be removed and rotated laterally to a folded position and still be retained by the slider attachment to the fin box.
 12. The watercraft of claim 10, wherein the slider attachment is connected to the base assembly via one or more elastic bands allowing retention of the base assembly and fin to the watercraft when in the folded position.
 13. The watercraft of claim 10, wherein the fin includes a lower fin body that defines a hollow slot for receiving a rotation plate of the base assembly.
 14. The watercraft of claim 13, wherein the base assembly includes a base plate and an overmold.
 15. The watercraft of claim 14, wherein the overmold defines the limits of longitudinal rotation of the fin.
 16. The watercraft of claim 13, wherein the rotation plate includes a friction disk.
 17. The watercraft of claim 13, wherein the base assembly includes in insertion plate for inserting the base assembly into the slider.
 18. The watercraft of claim 10, wherein the fin includes a magnetic device in a tip of the fin for retaining the fin in the folded position against the watercraft.
 19. The watercraft of claim 10, wherein the fin is configured to rotate 150 degrees in the longitudinal direction.
 20. The watercraft of claim 10, further comprising a suction cup disposed on the hull for retaining the fin in the folded position. 